Dateline: Hoisington, Kansas 

   Billy Joe “Bill” Patton, 91, died November 22, 2017, at Woodhaven Care Center, Ellinwood.

He was born January 25, 1926, in Dixie, Oklahoma, the son of Marvin D. and Fleta R.J. (Moody) Patton.

Bill graduated in 1944, from Healdton High School, Healdton, Oklahoma, and then served his country in WWII with the United States Navy as a Yeoman 2nd Class.  After his honorable discharge from the Navy he returned and attended North Texas State University.

On June 16, 1951, he married Patricia E. “Pat” McCown, in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.

Bill worked as a district clerk for Kewanee Oil Company which later became Gulf Oil Company for 34 years.  A longtime resident of Hoisington, Bill and his family moved several times with his job, which began in Odessa, Texas, then to Hoisington, and Haysville, and Wichita, with several moves back to Hoisington in between, before moving back to Hoisington, where they retired.

Bill was a member of the First United Methodist Church in Hoisington, where he sang and directed the church choir.  He also directed the youth group choir and sang in a Barbershop Quartet.  He was a former member of the Lions Club.

He is survived by his wife of 66 years, Patricia E. “Pat” Patton; four children, Michael Patton of Hoisington, Susan Waller and husband Tom of Garden City, Jon Patton and wife Rosa of Tribune, and James Patton and wife Diane of Wichita; 10 grandchildren, and 8 great grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his parents, and two brothers, James W. Patton and Dalton Patton.

A memorial service will be held at 10:30 a.m., Saturday, December 2, 2017, at Nicholson-Ricke Funeral Home Chapel, with Reverend Dr. Reuben Lang ‘at presiding.  Friends may sign the book 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday at the funeral home.  There will be no viewing as cremation has taken place.

In lieu of flowers memorials may be made to First United Methodist Church or Kans for Kids in care of Nicholson-Ricke Funeral Home, PO Box 146, Hoisington, KS 67544.

GREAT BEND — Erma Lou Meyer, 88, died Nov. 26, 2017, at Pleasant Hills Assisted Living, Hutchinson. She was born Feb. 1, 1929, at Campbell, Neb., the daughter of Fred Jacob and Mary Sophia (Lutkemeier) Kimle. She married Donald F. Meyer Feb. 16, 1958, at Campbell, Neb. She graduated from Hastings Business College in 1949. A Great Bend resident since 1958, coming from Hastings, Neb., Mrs. Meyer was a homemaker and also had worked as a secretary and cashier for the Credit Bureau of Great Bend.

Mrs. Meyer was a member of Trinity Lutheran Church, Trinity Ladies Fellowship. She volunteered for Meals on Wheels, Central Kansas Medical Center, RSVP and was volunteer of the year, and Barton County Food Bank, as well as teaching Vacation Bible School and Sunday School. She enjoyed baking, quilting, crocheting, fishing with Don and spending time with family.

Survivors include her husband, Donald F. Meyer, of the home; one son, Mark Meyer and his wife Elaine of Great Bend; three daughters, Cynthia Lee Smith and her husband Gene of Great Bend, Mary McGee and her husband Tony of Joplin, Mo., and Denise Thode and her husband Dr. Jeffery of Hutchinson; and nine grandchildren, Craig Legleiter, Kathy Graham, Chris Stephens, Melissa Adelhardt, Travis Lee, Donald McGee, Matthew McGee, Eli Thode and Cristina Thode; and 11 great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by two brothers, Paul Kimle and Phillip Kimle; and two sisters, Elsie Rhodes and Edna Eckhardt.

Funeral services will be at 10:30 a.m., Thursday, Nov. 30, 2017, at Trinity Lutheran Church in Great Bend with the Rev. Jon Brudvig. Burial will be in Hillcrest Memorial Park, Great Bend. Friends may call from noon to 9 p.m., with the family present from 6-8 p.m., Wednesday, Nov. 29, 2017, at Bryant Funeral Home. Memorials are requested to Trinity Lutheran Church or Barton County Relay for Life, in care of Bryant Funeral Home.

Condolences may be sent and notice viewed at www.bryantfh.net

Arrangements by Bryant Funeral Home 1425 Patton Road Great Bend, Kansas 67530

Dateline: Hoisington, Kansas

Shane A. Wolf, 45, passed away Wednesday November 22, 2017 at his home in Hoisington. Shane was born February 5, 1972 at McPherson, the son of Danny and Monta (Wooley) Wolf. He graduated from Great Bend High School and attended Barton Community College and Goodland Vo Tech. He was united in marriage to Jamie Lust March 15, 1997, in Hoisington. He was a mechanic for Clarke Well Service.

Shane was a member of the First Bible Baptist Church in Great Bend. He loved to attend his children’s programs and sporting events. He always had a smile on his face. He loved his two dogs Bo and Kissy and his cat Emma.

Survivors include his children Karter, Kenzie, and Keeley Wolf all of Hoisington; parents Danny and Monta Wolf of Great Bend; sisters Rachel and husband Corky Moore and Jessica and husband Eric Vsetecka all of Great Bend; niece Jordan Vsetecka and nephews Curtis, Austin and Chris Moore, Brantley and Brody Vsetecka; former wife Jamie Lust Wolf.

Visitation will be 9a.m.-8 p.m. with family present 6-8 p.m. with a prayer service at 6 p.m. Tuesday November 28, 2017 at Nicholson-Ricke Funeral Home. Service will be held at 10:30 a.m., Wednesday November 29, 2017, at Emmanuel Lutheran Church with The Reverend Wayne Baldyga presiding.

Memorial has been established for the Children Education Fund in care of Nicholson-Ricke Funeral Home, PO Box 146, Hoisington, KS 67544

 

GREAT BEND — Arnold Frederick Essmiller, Jr., 92, died Nov. 21, 2017, at Cherry Village Nursing Home, Great Bend. He was born July 9, 1925 at Great Bend, the son of Arnold Frederick, Sr., and Arabella Dorothea (Miller) Essmiller. He married Joyce Deanne Phillips Jan. 19, 1944, at Great Bend. A lifetime Great Bend resident, Mr. Essmiller was a farmer and stockman and owned and operated Essmiller Oil Company.

Mr. Essmiller was a member of First Presbyterian Church, the Elks Lodge, a charter member of the Great Bend Evening Lions Club, Barton County Historical Society, Optimist Club, ad served as a school board member of Countryside School District 108 from its creation in 1954 until the school closing in the late 1960’s. He was named one of Great Bend’s Outstanding Young Farmers of the Year in 1959 by American State Bank and the Great Bend Chamber of Commerce. Mr. Essmiller loved planes and aviation, obtaining his pilot’s license in the early 1950’s. He was a devoted husband, father and grandfather “Papa,” who loved nothing more than family gatherings, and was so happy when his granddaughter and her husband bought part of the family farm west of Great Bend, and his great-grandsons would be growing up in the home where he was born and raised.

Survivors include his wife, Joyce Essmiller, of the home; three daughters, Jan Marie Bolick of Carmel, Ind., ArNell Deanne Briel and husband Jon of Great Bend, and Jadean Louise Takao and husband Eric of Kailua, Hawaii; four grandchildren, Brent Bolick and wife Amy of Jacksonville, Fla., Wendy Sundahl and husband Shane of Larned, Robin Murphy and husband Matt of Fishers, Ind., and Hayley Dicks and husband Shane of Great Bend; and eight great-grandchildren, Sophie Bolick, Olivia Bolick, Connor Deer, Brady Murphy, Dalton Dicks, Parker Dicks, Slade Sundahl and Darby Sundahl. He was preceded in death by one brother, Fritz Diedrich Essmiller; and one sister, Arlene Margaret Ford.

Funeral services will be at 2 p.m., Monday, Nov. 27, 2017, at First Presbyterian Church in Great Bend with Pastor Don Paden officiating. Burial will be in Great Bend Cemetery. Friends may call from 1-9 p.m., with the family receiving friends from 6-8 p.m., Sunday, Nov. 26, 2017, at Bryant Funeral Home. Memorials have been established with Wounded Warrior Project or Golden Belt Humane Society, in care of Bryant Funeral Home.

Condolences may be sent and notice viewed at www.bryantfh.net

                      Arrangements by    Bryant Funeral Home        

1425 Patton Road       Great Bend, Kansas         67530

GREAT BEND — Beverly J. Davis, 85, died Nov. 22, 2017, at Cherry Village Nursing Home, Great Bend. She was born Sept. 26, 1932, at St. Joseph, Mo., the daughter of Henry Allen, Sr., and Inez Leota (Stanley) Brown. A Great Bend resident since 1967, coming from Houston, she was Dr. William Teasdale’s office manager for many years and was a senior care giver.

She was a member of First Assembly of God, Great Bend.

Survivors include one son, Keith Davis and wife Susan of Salina; one daughter, Cynthia Davis of Great Bend; one brother, Henry Allen Brown, Jr.; two sisters, Bonnie Arnold and Shirley Hardesty, both of Great Bend; five grandchildren; and 11 great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by two brothers, Gail E. Brown and Stanley Earl Brown.

Graveside services will be at 2 p.m., Wednesday, Nov. 29, 2017, at Hillcrest Memorial Park with Pastor Dwight Dozier officiating. Burial will be in Hillcrest Memorial Park. Friends may call from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., with the family receiving friends from 6-7:30 p.m., Tuesday, Nov. 28, 2017, at Bryant Funeral Home. Memorials have been established with St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, in care of Bryant Funeral Home.

Condolences may be sent and notice viewed at www.bryantfh.net

                      Arrangements by    Bryant Funeral Home        

1425 Patton Road       Great Bend, Kansas         67530

Dateline: Odin, Kansas

Mathilda M. “Tillie” Penka, 95, died November 21, 2017, at Salina Regional Health Center.
She was born December 11, 1921, on the family farm near Odin, Kansas, the daughter of William B. and Frances (Frenzel) Zecha.

A lifetime resident of Odin, she was a homemaker. Tillie was a member of the Holy Family Catholic Church and the St. Ann’s Altar Society.

On May 29, 1944, she married Joseph L. Penka. He preceded her in death on April 24, 1989.

Survivors include; eight children, Janiece Kornmeyer and husband Myron of Wilson, Marvin Penka and wife Katrina of Redwing, Alvin Penka of Odin, JoAnn Puls and husband Bruce of Parker, CO, Marty Geist and husband Bill of Amarillo, TX, Kathy Hammeke and husband Dave of Belpre, Dee Caraway of Amarillo, TX, and Joe Penka of Odin; two sisters, Doris Weiser of Hoisington, and Lucille Schneweis of Wichita; 7 grandchildren, and 22 great grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her husband; six brothers, Raymond, Robert, Victor, Herman, Francis, and Clarence Zecha; and four sisters, Eleanor Johanning, Helen Straub, Kathleen Zecha, and Agnes Penka.

Friends may call 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Friday, with family to greet friends from 6 to 8 p.m.
Vigil and Rosary will begin at 7 p.m. at Nicholson-Ricke Funeral Home, Hoisington.

Mass of Christian Burial will be 10 a.m., Saturday, November 25, 2017, at Holy Family Catholic Church, Odin, Kansas. Burial will follow in Holy Family Cemetery.

Memorials may be made to St. Ann’s Altar Society or Holy Family Cemetery Fund, in care of Nicholson-Ricke Funeral Home, PO Box 146, Hoisington, KS 67544.